Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Starring:Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Obba BabatundÃ©, Loretta Devine, Cynda Williams, LaTanya Richardson, Tamara Taylor, William Atherton, D.B. Sweeney, Don Gettinger, Nicholas Hormann, Sharon Brown, Darrian C. Ford, M.J. Sawyer, Joanne Baron, Alexis Carrington, Margaret Easley, Clinton Derricks-Carroll, Kerri Randles
Director: Martha Coolidge
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Dorothy Dandridge was a Hollywood trailblazer. A confident sex symbol in the 1950s, she was the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, but the electrifying stage chanteuse and dancer was forbidden to even enter the nightclubs and show rooms she performed in except from the stage. As portrayed by Halle Berry, who shepherded Dandridge's story to the screen, Dandridge is a sure, insistent star who battled racist studios and Jim Crow laws to maintain her dignity in public while stumbling through a private life marked by bad relationships and abusive lovers. Berry gives her best performance to date, brimming with ambition and moxie offstage, charming audiences with the slinky, sure moves of a nightclub veteran onstage, and convincingly "becoming" Dandridge in dramatic re-creations from Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess. Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) is sweet and sympathetic as her supportive, lovesick manager, and Klaus Maria Brandauer is, in Dandridge's words, a "big old bulldog" as director Otto Preminger. Director Martha Coolidge balances private troubles with professional milestones and setbacks and pulls no punches showing the institutional racism of late 1950s Las Vegas or the brutality of a vicious alcoholic husband. Originally made for HBO, this drama lacks the big-budget spectacle of traditional Hollywood biographies but offers in its place sharp writing, intelligent direction, and strong, sensitive performances. --Sean Axmaker

Description

An acclaimed stage performer, Dorothy struggled with the challenge of her color in Hollywood. She beat out many more famous rivals for the role of ' 'Carmen Jones' ', and became the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award (R). Seductive and easily seduced, she was born to be a star. Here was a woman who wouldn't wait in the wings.

Customer Reviews:

The portrait of a lady--sensitive, realistic and engaging.......2007-06-17

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge tells the story of how Dorothy Dandridge rose to fame despite racism against African Americans in 1950s America. Amazon correctly notes that the film doesn't shy away from the uglier realities that Dandridge had to endure. We see Dorothy having to use a cup to urinate in instead of using the bathroom that was only for whites; and Dorothy watches as people scour the pool at The New Frontier Hotel in Vegas after she merely splashed her foot in the water. We also get insight into how Dorothy was pushed around by Hollywood executives who wanted her to play comparatively small parts like the role of Tuptim in The King and I after starring in Carmen Jones.

Halle Berry portrays Dorothy Dandridge with a sensitivity that you can easily appreciate. The victimization Dandridge suffers while living with her mother and her mother's apparent girlfriend is very starkly portrayed without any attempt to water it down; and you find yourself empathizing with her character Dorothy pretty quickly after the movie starts. Halle Berry practically throws herself into the starring role of Dorothy with passion and energy that would make Dorothy proud and grateful if she were still with us today to view this movie. Berry's portrayal of Dorothy's pain and deep angst when she must confront the fact that her only daughter with Harold Nicholas, her first husband, is profoundly brain damaged convinces you that Berry feels everything Dorothy experienced when Dorothy herself had to take the bad news. We see Halle Berry acting convincingly throughout the rest of the picture, too--overjoyed with her love affair with Otto Preminger, crushed when he leaves her twisting in the wind. We see Halle Berry showing us both sides of Dorothy Dandridge--the fiery, brave and amorous side and the vulnerable side of her as well.

The supporting cast turns in marvelous performances also. Look for Obba Babatunde to play the role of Harold Nicholas, Dandridge's first husband who cannot be the family man she truly wants him to be although he tries; and Klaus Maria Brandauer is well cast at director Otto Preminger. Brandauer portrays Preminger as a cold, calculating man who wants what he wants when he wants it--and then throws Dandridge's love for him away as soon as he no longer wants it anymore. In addition, Brent Spiner does a great job playing the role of the faithful, loyal manager who tries to guide and protect Dandridge during her tumultuous career and personal ups and downs.

The cinematography reflects great judgment; the camera moves at all the right angles to capture the action and mood of every scene. The choreography works well, especially in crowd scenes including Dandridge's first appearance at Ciro's nightclub. In addition, the scenes that display domestic violence reflect a great deal of forethought and good judgment to make the action have just the right effect on the viewer. Excellent!

The DVD comes with few extras: I disliked the advertisement "extra" which basically just tries to get you to buy more DVDs. The brief biographies of the real life cast members were good but I would have appreciated some commentary by director Martha Coolidge or the cast members.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge does more than merely accomplish the goal of telling us the story of Dorothy's roller coaster career and personal life. This is an insightful portrait of a lady whose life story is full of sad and poignant moments interspersed with professional triumphs and happiness. Do yourself a favor and get this movie on DVD--you won't be disappointed in the slightest.

We Cannot Forget The Past .......2007-02-28

All that needs to be stated about Halle Berry's stunning portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge is she won Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Emmy awards for the HBO drama.

In this era where Hollywood is celebrating diversity in movies, we cannot forget the time not that long ago when black performers suffered mightily from closed doors in the front of studios & maybe having a fleeting opportunity through a rear door that was opened just slightly.

Dandridge was the first black woman nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her 1954 performance in Carmen Jones. But Jim Crow pursued her through a tumultuous life that ended with her tragic accidental death or suicide by prescription drugs at the age of 42 in 1965.

Perhaps because it was a movie destined for cable, the script powerfully addresses the racism faced by Dandridge in Hollywood and Las Vegas. In one moving scene, a Las Vegas hotel drains and scrubs a pool after Dandridge placed her foot in the water.

Berry is magnificent as she balances the triumphs of Dandridge as an actress & nightclub performer with a private life marred by physically-abusive lovers, an alcoholic husband who left her virtually penniless and an ongoing affair with director Otto Preminger, who seemingly showed his real feelings by not attending her funeral.

The movie is Berry at a pinnacle artistically and obviously committed to capturing the essence of Dandridge. And it again brings out an important point that to truly move forward as a society, we cannot forget the past.

get rid of sub-titles.......2007-01-23

The only thing I didn't like was when the DVD is first starting the sub-titles have to be turned off every time the DVD is played

tragic.......2006-10-16

That's just goes to show you how Black people got treated back in the day.Halle Berry protrayed her well. I see why she got the Golden Globe for her protrayal of Dorothy Dandridge. Ms. Dandridge would be proud had she lived to see it.

Berry does a bang-up job!.......2006-08-05

This docu-drama is one of the best of its genres. Halle Berry does justice to the great Dorothy Dandridge, and the tale of her life (both before, during and after Hollywood) is heartbreaking. The only problem I have with this DVD is a technical one - the sound seems to be out-of-balance, with background noise often overpowering the dialogue.

HBO Originals - Gia, The Rat Pack, Gotti, A Bright Shining Lie, Truman, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and RKO 281

Average customer rating:

i think this movie was great!!!
cast better than direction
Who knew?
Buena.
Sad Girl Sad Life

HBO Originals - Gia, The Rat Pack, Gotti, A Bright Shining Lie, Truman, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and RKO 281
Starring: Gary Sinise , Diana Scarwid , Richard A. Dysart , Colm Feore , and James Gammon
Director: Frank Pierson , Martha Coolidge , and Benjamin Ross
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005221R
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Amazon.com

There's a reason why Cindy Crawford was dubbed "Baby Gia" when she first hit the modeling scene. Indeed, Crawford, now the world's best-known supermodel, greatly resembled model Gia Carangi, who went from high school to the cover of British Vogue in less than two years. Carangi appeared on many more covers of Vogue (French, British, Italian, and American) and Cosmopolitan before dying of complications from AIDS (she was an IV heroin user) in 1986. Now most people recognize Carangi's name from this powerful HBO film that stars Golden Globe-winner Angelina Jolie, who comes by her talent honestly. Jolie is the daughter of veteran actor Jon Voight, and her own training as a model serves her well--she has the moves. Throughout, she's heartbreaking--as no doubt the real Carangi was--effective, and stunning.

With good source material (Stephen Fried's A Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia), Jolie's stunning performance, and strong directing by Michael Cristofer, the movie goes beyond the merely sensational. The script was cowritten by Cristofer and novelist Jay McInerney, whose Bright Lights, Big City covers similar territory. As a cautionary tale, Gia works. But to watch Jolie in her character's tragic self-destruction is utterly compelling. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews:

i think this movie was great!!!.......2007-07-04

i think this movie was great!!!it showed all the uglyniess that can happen when on drugs.i felt it was a great movie and gia was beautiful!!

cast better than direction.......2007-05-30

Cast is excellent, Jolie totally believable. 4 stars because of her.
Something bugs me about direction. At times "told" as documentary, at times overdramatized... It's like director wasn't quite sure how to tell the story.
Script also has a few holes in it, for people not familiar with Gia Carangi story - Why wasn't her mother there for her, ever? What happened to her friends? Actually what happened to all the people a person in her 20s has around her? Was her agent not only her second mother but also the only friend?
And finally, what was it about Gia that propelled her into stratosphere, just like that?
On last note, this film will most likely leave you feeling "heavy" and depressed.

Who knew?.......2007-05-18

In this true life portrayal of Gia Marie Carangi's life, Angeline Jolie lays the ground work for her monumental arrival to the big screen. I think with this film, Jolie establishes herself as the most courageous actress to grace the scene in quite sometime. On another note, it's sad that someone as beautiful as Gia Carangi struggled with so many demons. You never know what's going on in someone's mind. In any event, Angelina Jolie is magnificent!

Buena........2007-05-09

Angelina como la queremos ver!
Con cruel exposición de la realidad del mundo del modelage.

Sad Girl Sad Life.......2007-05-01

I watched this movie because my daughter was watching it. What a sad story. I think all young girls at one time or another wish they could be in a magazine. Most forget about it as they pursue real careers that would satisfy them. There were two lines in the movie that really struck me,one from the actor that played the famed photographer Frances Scuvullo,who states "We use them up and throw them away"!And one from the main character Gia(Angelina Jolie) I go on go sees, I go, but they don't see me.Gia should have had a parent with her. She was 17 years old when she entered the business. From the movie part Gia seemed to want her mother to stay with her and she couldn't or wouldn't, you don't really know. Also where were her friends when she began this spiral downward? Sad story about to much, too fast and no guidance.

Average customer rating:

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000LP5CWK
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge [Region 2]
Starring: Halle Berry , Brent Spiner , Klaus Maria Brandauer , Obba Babatundé , and Loretta Devine
Director: Martha Coolidge
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00006AFHV

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